Toe lasting machine

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE FOR WIPING THE MARGIN OF THE TOE PORTION OF AN UPPER DRAPED ABOUT A LAST AGAINST AN INSOLE LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST. THE WIPING IS PERFORMED BY WIPERS, HAVING A TOE TO HEEL COMPONENT OF MOVEMENT, THAT PERFORM THEIR WIPING OPERATION IN RESPONSE TO THE ENGAGEMENT OF A HEEL CLAMP WITH THE HEEL PORTION OF THE LAST WHILE THE HEEL CLAMP IS LOCKED AGAINST MOVEMENT AWAY FROM THE LAST.

y 25, 1971 J. 5. KAMBORIAN TOE LASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1969 IN l/E N TOR Jacob S. Komborian BY I" M y 1971 J. 5. KAMBORIAN TOE LASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 17, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 25, 1971 Filed Sept. 17, 1969 May 25, 1971 J. 5. KAMBORIAN TOE LASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 17, 1969 y 25, 1911 J. s. KA'MBQRIAN 3,57 ,690

TOE LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 362 98 FIG-l7 TD //8-- 300 =HF y 25, 1971 J. s. KAMBORIAN 3,579,690

Ton LAS'IING mourns Filed Sept. 17, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 y 25, 19.71 J. s. KAMBORIAN 3,579,699

TOE LASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 17, 1969 United States Patent @fice 3,579,690 Patented May 25, 1971 3,579,690 TOE LASTING MACHINE Jacob S. Kamborian, '70 Crestwood Road, West Newton, Mass. 02165 Filed Sept. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 858,667 Int. Cl. A4311 21/00 U.S. Cl. 1212.4 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Toe lasting machines, for wiping the margin of the toe portion of an upper draped about a last against an insole located on the bottom of the last, conventionally have wiping means movable in a direction having a toe to heel component to effect the wiping operation. In order to prevent the shoe assembly, comprising the last, upper and insole, from shifting during the wiping operation, the machines incorporate a heel clamp that bears against the heel portion of the shoe assembly and is locked against movement away from the shoe assembly. The controls of these machines are intended to bring the heel clamp against the shoe assembly and lock it against movement away from the shoe assembly before the wiping movement of the wiping means, but such controls have frequently proved to be ineffective in providing this sequence of operations.

This invention is directed to a toe lasting machine of the type described above which incorporates a control that ensures that the heel clamp bears against the heel portion of the shoe assembly and is locked against movement away from the shoe assembly before the wiping operation takes place. The control is operated in response to the engagement of the heel clamp with the heel portion of the shoe assembly and imparts movement to the wiping'means while the heel clamp is locked against movement away from the shoe assembly.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine showing the wiping means and heel clamp operating mechanisms;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a shoe conforming and clamping yoke;

FIG. 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7- 7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the heel clamp;

FIG. 9 is a view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view of a portion of the control for operating the wiping means and for imparting a clamping force to the yoke;

FIG. 12 is a view taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a portion of the control circuit of the machine;

FIG. 14 is a representation of the shoe assembly as it appears in the machine just before the wiping operation;

FIG. 15 is a view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternative arrangement for locking the heel clamp;

FIG. 17 is a view taken on the line 1 7-17 of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a portion of the control circuit of a machine that incorporates the arrangement of FIGS. 16 and 17.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine includes a frame 10 that incorporates a base plate 12 that has a sleeve 14 extending downwardly therefrom. For convenience of operation, the machine is inclined about 30 degrees from the horizontal. However, parts extending in the direction of the plate 12 will hereafter be referred to as extending horizontally and parts extending in the direction of the sleeve 14 will hereafter be referred to as extending vertically. The operator is intended to be located to the left of the machine as seen in FIG. 1, and a direction extending towards the operator (right to left in FIG. 1) will be referred to as forward while a direction extending away from the operator (left to right in FIG. 1) will be referred to as rearward.

Ash shown in FIGS. 2, 14 and 15, a toe insole rest 16, a pair of forepart insole rests 1 8 and an applicatorsupport 20 are mounted in the machine. Reference is made to Pat. No. 3,397,417 and pending application Ser. No. 648,360 filed June 23, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,477,079, for a detailed disclosure of the mounting of these members.

Referring to FIGS. 24, a slide plate 22 is slidably mounted on gibs 26 for forward-rearward movement, rearwardly of the insole rests 16, 1 8i and the applicatorsupport 20, in a head 24 that forms a part of the frame 10. A motor 28 is connected to the slide plate 22 by means shown in the aforementioned Pat. No. 3,397,417 to effect forward-rearward movement of the slide plate. Trunnions 30 upstanding from the slide plate 22 mount a pin 32 on which is swingably mounted the mid-portion of a hold-down lever 34 that extends forwardly and rearwardly of the pin .32. A toe hold-down 36 is secured to the front end of the lever 34. An air actuated motor 38, pivoted to a bracket 40 secured to the frame 10, has a piston rod 42 that is pivoted to the rear of the lever 34.

An air actuated motor 44 is secured to a flange 46 secured to the rear of the slide plate 22. The piston rod 48 of the motor 44 is connected to a housing 50 that is slidably mounted in gibs 52 formed in the slide plate 22. A block 54 is slidably mounted in the gibs 52 forwardly of the housing 50 and is connected to the housing by a bolt 56. A pair of symmetrically disposed wiper cams 58 are slidably supported on a thickened block 60 that forms the forward end of the slide plate 22. The block 60 has pins 62 upstanding therefrom that extend into slots or cam tracks 64 and 66 formed in the wiper cams 58. Forwardly divergent links 68 are pivotally connected at their rear ends to the block 54 and at their forward ends to the wiper earns 58. Wipers 70 are connected to and extend forwardly of the wiper cams '58. The wipers are fiat plates having forwardly divergent edges 72 that diverge forwardly from a vertex 7-4.

A cover block 76 is secured to the block 60 and extends above the wiper cams 58 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the block 76 has a cut-out 78 at its forward end to accommodate a flexible shoe conforming pad or yoke 80. A U-sha-ped bracket 82 having a rear leg 84 and a front leg 86 is bolted to the top of the block 76. A stud 88 extends forwardly through the legs 84 and 86 of the bracket 82 and has a stop nut 90 threaded thereon, the stop nut having a forwardly extending sleeve portion 92 that is slidably contained within the front leg 86 of the bracket 82 and a collar portion 94 that is contained between the bracket legs 84 and 86. The front end of the stud 88 is threaded into and secured to a yoke mounting bracket 96. An air actuated motor 98 is pivotally connected to the slide plate 22 by means of a bracket 100 and has a piston rod 102 extending forwardly therefrom. The piston rod 102 is pivotally connected to one end of a drive bar 104, the other end of the drive bar 104 being pivoted by a pin 106 to the cover block 76. The rearwardly protruding end of the stud 88 is pivotally connected by means of a clevis 108 and a pin 110 to the drive bar 104 at a point intermediate the ends of the drive bar so that upon actuation of the motor 98 the drive bar 104 may be pivoted in forward-rearward direactions thereby effecting forward-rearward movement of the stud 88. The limit of forward movement of the stud 88 is governed by the engagement of the collar portion 94 with the rear of the bracket leg 86.

The block 76 is formed into inner flanges 112 at the forward ends of the cut-out 78 and outer flanges 114 that are bolted to the block. The piston 116 of an air acuated motor 118 is pivotally secured to each flange 114 by a pin 120 to extend inwardly thereof, and a cyclinder 122 is slidable on each piston 116. Each cylinder 122 has a screw 124 extending inwardly thereof that is threaded into a bar 126, the bars 126 being slidably mounted in the inner: flanges 112. A sleeve 128 is slidably mounted on each bar 126 to bear against the exterior of an inner flange 112, and compression springs 130 interposed between the sleeves 128 and the cylinders 122 serve to yieldably urge the cylinders and the bars 126 outwardly with the cylinders abutting against the outer flanges 114. A rubber bumper 132 is mounted on a mount 134 that in turn is pivotally secured to the inner end of each bar 126 by a pin 136. Slots 138, formed on the bars 126 outwardly of the bumpers 132 and the pins 136, receive pins 140 that are secured to brackets 142. Compression springs -144, interposed between shoulders 146 on the bars 126 and the brackets 142 serve to yieldably urge the brackets 142 inwardly with the pins 140 engaging the inner ends of the slots 138.

The yoke 80 is of substantially U-shape and has a bight 148 and a pair of legs 150 extending forwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the bight. The yoke is made of a flexible, deformable material such as Teflon and has a pair of bowed springs 152, that are resiliently urged inwardly of the yoke, extending exteriorly of each yoke leg from the bight forwardly thereof. The yoke bight 148 is received in a socket 154 in the bracket 96. An inwardly extending support arm 156 on each bracket 142 has a downwardly extending pin 158 that is inserted into a slot 160 in each yoke leg 150'. Each bracket 156 has a spring arm 162 secured thereto and extending rearwardly thereof that is entwined at its rear end on a pin 164 located in the mounting bracket 96. The yoke 80 is located in the machine directly above the wipers 70.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a fluid actuated motor 166 is secured to a hanger 168 depending from the head 24. The piston rod 170 of the motor 166 is connected by way of a plate 172 to a pair of bars 174 that are slidably guided in bosses 176 and 178 aflixed to the frame 10. A yoke 180 is secured to and straddles the front ends of the bars 174. A post 182 is mounted to the yoke 180 for heightwise adjustment.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, a carrier 184 is mounted to a mount 186 that is secured to the top of the post 182. A heel clamp holder 188 is pivotally mounted to the carrier 184 by means of a pin 190, as shown in greater detail in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 648,360. A heel clamp 192 is mounted to the holder 188 for swinging movement about a heightwise axis by means of pivot pins 194. The heel clamp is formed of two rearwardly divergent mount portions 196 and 198. A clamp pad 200 is rigidly secured to the portion 196. A clamp pad 202 is pivotally connected, by a hinge 204, to the top of the portion 198 and extends downwardly and rearwardly of a back flange 208 on the portion 198. A spring return 4 air operated control valve 206 is mounted to the flange 208. The valve stem 210 of the valve 206 is urged rearwardly, by the conventional spring in the valve 206, through a hole 212 in the flange 208 to bear against the clamp pad 202 and urge the clamp pad 202 rearwardly about the hinge 204 away from the flange 208.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a pair of braces 214 and 216 are secured to a post 218 that forms a part of the frame 10. An air operated motor 220 is secured to a plate 222 that extends bet-ween and is secured to the braces 214 and 216. The downwardly extending piston rod 224 of the motor 220 is pivotally connected to an arm 226 by means of a pin 228 on the piston rod that is slidable in a slot 230 in the arm. The arm 226 is secured to a shift 232 that is rotatably mounted to and extends bet-ween the braces 214 and 216. A pair of actuating cams 234 and 236 are secured to the shaft 232. Each of the cams 234 and 236 has a segment of relatively large radius that is adapted, when the cams are rotated, respectively to engage the actuators 235 and 237 of valves 238 and 240. The valves 238 and 240 are secured to a plate 242 that extends between and is secured to the braces 214 and 216.

In the idle condition of the machine: the slide plate 22 and the parts carried thereby are caused by the motor 28 to be in a rearward out-of-the way position; the piston rod 42 is retracted into the motor 38 so that the toe hold-down 36 is in an elevated position; the piston rod 48 is retracted into the motor 44 so that the wipers 70 are in their retracted open position; the piston rod 102 is projected from the motor 98 under relatively low pressure to thereby urge the yoke bight 148 forwardly under relatively low pressure; the cylinders 122 of the motors 118 bear against the outer flanges 114 with no pressurized air entering the motors 118, thus maintaining the bumpers 132 outward of the inner peripheral wall of the yoke the piston rod is projected out of the motor 166 so that the heel clamp 192 is in a fonward position; the valve 206 is closed in the FIG. 10 position; the piston rod 224 is retracted into the motor 220, as shown in FIG. 12, so that the cams 234 and 236 are disengaged from the valve actuators 235 and 237; and the valves 238 and 240 are closed.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a shoe assembly to be toe lasted is presented bottom-down to the machine. The shoe assembly comprises a shoe insole 244 located on the bottom of a last 246, as by being tacked thereto, and a shoe upper 248 draped over the toe portion of the last. The shoe has preferably been heel seat lasted prior to presentation to the machine. The insole is brought to bear against the applicator-support 20 and the upper is pulled and stretched about the toe end and forepart of the last in the manner described in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 648,360. At the end of the pulling over and stretching operation the shoe assembly is supported by the lnsole rests 16 and 18 as well as the applicator-support 20.

After this, the motor 28 is actuated to move the slide plate 22 forwardly from its rearward out-of-theway positron to a forward working position. When the slide plate has completed its forward movement, a motor 254 (FIG. 1) is actuated to raise the insole rests 16, 18 and the applicator-support 20, together with the shoe assembly, to a level such that the bottom of the toe portion of the insole 244 is above the level of the tops of the wipers 70 an amount that is approximately equal to the thickness of the margin of the upper 248, as indicated in FIG. 14. The margin of the toe portion of the upper is at this time extending downwardly of the insole. At about the beginning of the rise of the applicator-support 20, a quantity of cement is extruded through holes 256 and a groove 258 (FIGS. 2, l4 and 15) in the applicator-support against the bottom of the margin of the insole 244. Shortly after the shoe assembly has commenced its rise, air under relatively low pressure is admitted to the motor 38 to actuate this motor to force the hold-down 36 against the top of the rising shoe assembly under relatively low pressure. The hold-down 36 rides upwardly with the shoe assembly under this relatively low pressure during the rise of the shoe assembly.

The shoe assembly was initially so placed on the applicator-support 20 that when the yoke 80 was moved to its forward working position by the forward movement of the slide plate 22 the edge of the toe portion of the last 246 overlapped the inner wall of the yoke. When the shoe assembly is forced upwardly by the motor 254, the bight 148 of the yoke 80 flexes rearwardly against the relatively low pressure exerted by the motor 98 and the yoke legs 150 flex outwardly against the pressure exerted by the springs 152. After this, the brackets 142 and the spring arms 162 swing outwardly about the pins 164 and move the pins 140 outwardly in the slots 138 against the yieldable forces exerted by the springs 144 with the brackets 142 moving away from the mounts 134. The yieldable forces exerted by the motor 98 and the springs 144 and 152 cause the yoke to snugly engage the upper 248 and cause the upper to snugly conform to the shape of the last 146 during the rise of the shoe assembly. The bearing of the hold-down 36 against the shoe assembly under the aforementioned low pressure during the rise of the shoe assembly prevents the shoe assembly from shifting with respect to the insole rests 16, 18 and the applicator-support 20.

Referring to FIG. 13, which is a schematic representation of a portion of the control circuit of the machine, the control circuit includes an air-oil tank 260 which is a conventional item that includes a compartment having incompressible oil at its bottom in communication with an oil line 262. The motor 166 is maintained in its idle condition by pressurized air passing from a source through a line 164, a valve 266 and a line 268 to the head end of this motor. Air also passes from the line 268 through a pilot line 270 to a check valve 272 to open the check valve so that oil may drain from the rod end of the motor 166 through a line 274, the valve 272 and the line 262 into the bottom of the tank 260. At this time the valve 266 is in a position that enables air to pass therethrough from the line 264 to the line 268 by pressurized air passing from the source through a line 276, a valve 278 and a pilot line 280 to the valve 266.

The valve 278 is so connected to the motor 28 (by means not shown) that a shifting of the valve 278 operates the motor 28 to move the slide plate 22 forwardly as described above. This shifting of the valve 278 also cuts off the flow of pressurized air through the line 280 to the valve 266. However, this does not affect the valve 266 which remains in its original position due to inertia.

At the completion of the rise of the shoe assembly by the motor 254, as described above, a valve 282 is shifted. This enables pressurized air to pass from the source through a line 284, the valve 282 and a line 286 to the air compartment at the top of the tank 260. The shifting of the valve 282 also enables pressurized air to pass from the line 286 through a pilot line 288 to the valve 266 to shift this valve and thus cut oif the flow of pressurized air to the head end of the motor 166 and to the check valve 272. The admission of the pressurized air to the top of the tank 260 causes the oil in the bottom of this tank to be forced through the line 262, the check valve 272 and the line 274 to the rod end of the motor 166 while the pressurized air in the head end of the motor 166 and in the pilot line 270 is exhausted to atmosphere through the line 268 and the valve 266. Thus, the motor 166 is caused to move the heel clamp 192 rearwardly until the clamp pads 200 and 202 engage the heel end of the shoe assembly. At this time, teeth 290 (FIG. 8) in the holder 188 are in locking engagement with toothed wings 292 on the heel clamp 192, as shown in greater detail in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 648,3 60, to lock the heel clamp in such a position about the axis of the pins 194 that both clamp pads 200 and 202 are tangential to the sides of the shoe assembly when they engage it. Due to the incompressible nature of the oil 6 used to operate the motor 166 and due to the fact that the air in the pilot line 270 is exhausted to atmosphere, when the heel clamp 192 stops its rearward movement due to the engagement of the clamp pads 200 and 202 with the shoe assembly the heel clamp is locked against forward movement away from the shoe assembly.

The motor 220 is maintained in its idle position by pressurized air passing from the valve 266 through the line 268 and a line 294 to the rod end of this motor. When the valve 266 is shifted, as described above, to effect the operation of the motor 166 to move the heel clamp 192 rearwardly, the air in the rod end of the motor 220 is exhausted to atmosphere through the lines 294 and 268 and the valve 266 and pressurized air passes from the valve 266 through a line 296 to the closed valve 206. The engagement of the clamp pad 202 with the shoe assembly causes this clamp pad to swing about the hinge 204 against the flange 208 (FIG. 10) and thereby shift the valve stem 210 to open the valve 206. The opening of the valve 206 enables pressurized air to pass from the line 296 through the valve 206, a line 298 and a restrictor valve 300 in the line 298 to the head end of the motor 220 to thereby cause the piston rod 224 of the motor 220 to move downwardly at a speed that is determined by the setting of the restrictor valve 300. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the downward movement of the piston rod 224 first causes the cam 236 to arrive in a position to open the valve 240 and then causes the cam 234 to arrive in a position to open the valve 238.

The low pressure air to the motor 98, referred to above, passes from the source through a line 302, a low pressure regulator 304 in the line 302, a shuttle valve 306 and a line 308 to the motor 98. In the idle condition of the machine, pressurized air passes from the valve 278 through the pilot line 280 and a pilot line 310 to a valve 312. This air is cut off when the valve 278 is shifted, as described above, without effecting the position of the valve 312 due to inertia. The opening of the valve 240 enables pressurized air to pass from the source through a line 314, the valve 240 and a pilot line 316 to the valve 312 to shift the valve 312. The shifting of the valve 312 enables pressurized air to pass from the source through a line 318, the valve 312 and a line 320. From the line 320 the pressurized air branches off into lines 322 and 324. The pressurized air in the line 322 passes through the shuttle valve 306, at a higher pressure than the air passing through the shuttle valve from the line 302, and then through the line 308 to the motor 98 to cause this motor to force the yoke bight 148 against the toe end of the shoe assembly and under a forwardly directed heavy clamping pressure. The pressurized air in the line 324 passes to the motors 118 to move the cylinders 122 inwardly of the pistons 116 against the pressures of the springs and 144 to thereby force the yoke legs against the forepart of the shoe assembly under a higher clamping pressure than had been alforded by the springs 130 and to force the bumpers 132 against the foreparts of the upper in regions that are rearward of the yoke legs 150.

At this time the parts assume the position shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

The motor 44 maintains the wipers 70 in their idle position by pressurized air passing from the source through a line 326, a valve 328 and a line 330 to the rod end of this motor. In the idle condition of the machine, pressurized air passes from the valve 278 through the pilot line 280 and a pilot line 332 to the valve 328. This air is cut off when the valve 278 is shifted, as described above, without ececting the position of the valve 328 due to inertia. The opening of the valve 238 enables pressurized air to pass from the source through a line 334, the valve 238 and a pilot line 336 to the valve 328 to shift the valve 328. The shifting of the valve 328 enables pressurized air to pass from the line 326 through the valve 328 and a line 338 to the head end of the motor 44, with the air in the line 330 exhausting to atmosphere through the valve 328, to thereby actuate the motor 44 to move the wipers 70 forwardly in a wiping stroke. The actuation of the motor 44, through the housing 50, the block 54 and the links 68 causes the wiper earns 58 and the wipers 70 carried thereby to move wtih respect to the block 60 with the pins 62 riding in the cam tracks 64 and 66 in a path determined by the configuration of the cam tracks such that the wipers have both inward swinging movement about the vertex 74 and forward translatory movement. The Wiper movement causes the wipers to engage the toe portion of the upper margin that is stretched about the last to wipe or fold the upper margin agains the insole 244 and bond the upper margin to the insole by means of the cement that had been extruded against the insole.

From the foregoing it can be seen that, responsive to the engagement of the heel clamp 192 with the heel portion of the shoe assembly, first the toe portion of the upper is clamped against the last by the yoke 80 and then the wipers 70 effect their wiping operation. At the time of the engagement of the heel clamp with the shoe assembly the heel clamp is locked against forward movement due, as described above, to the incompressible nature of the oil in the line 274. The clamping of the shoe assembly by the yoke 80 and the heel clamp 192 ensures that the toe portion of the shoe assembly is securely held in proper relationship with respect to the wipers 70 and the wiper vertex 74, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when the wipers start their wiping stroke. By having the wipers perform their wiping stroke only after the heel clamp 192 is locked against forward movement, the shoe assembly is prevented from being displaced forwardly by the ressures generated during the wiping stroke. In addition, the locking of the heel clamp against forward movement before the champing pressure is exerted by the yoke 80 against the shoe assembly prevents the shoe assembly from being displaced forwardly by the clamping.

As the wipers 70 perform their wiping stroke, the applicator-support is lowered out of the path of the oncoming wipers by means shown in the aforementioned Pat. No. 3,397,417. This is followed by an actuation ofthe motor 254 to lower the insole rests 16, 1-8 out of the path of the oncoming wipers so that the shoe assembly is supported on its bottom solely by the wipers thus enabling the hold-down 36 to press the shoe assembly directly against the wipers and provide an overwiping pressure. Towards the end of the wiping stroke, air under full line pressure is admitted to the motor 38 to actuate this motor to force the hold-down 36 against the toe portion of the shoe assembly under greater pressure than had heretofore been applied for a predetermined length of time to iron the now wiped upper margin against the insole and to enable the cement that is between the wiped upper margin and the insole to bond the upper margin to the insole. At the end of this predetermined length of time, the machine parts are returned to their idle conditions to complete the machine cycle.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show an alternative heel clamp driving and locking mechanism of the type disclosed in the aforementioned Pat. No. 3,397,417. In this arrangement, the bars 174 extend through brakes 340 that are bolted to the bosses 176 by fasteners 342. Each brake is formed of an outer leg 344 bearing against the frame 10 and an inner leg 346 with the legs embracing the bars 174. The legs 344 and 346 are separated by a kerf 348 above the bars 174 which provides sufiicient flexibility to enable the legs 346 to be moved toward and away from the legs 344. A bolt 350, seated in each leg 344 and extending through its associated leg 346, has a nut 352 threaded thereon to limit the extent of movement of the legs 346 away from the legs 344. The lower ends of the legs 346 are pivotally connected by pins 354 to limbs 356. A link 358 is pivoted at one end to each limb 356 below the pins 354 and is pivoted at its other end to each leg 344.

The lowermost end of one of the limbs 356 is pivotally connected to the cylinder 360 of an air actuated motor 362 and the lowermost end of the other limb 356 is pivotally connected to the piston rod 364 of the motor 362.

In the idle condition of the machine incorporating the construction of FIGS. 16 and 17, the piston rod 364 is projected outwardly of the cylinder 360 so that the brakes 340 are in an unlocking position with respect to the bars 174 and the other parts of the machine are in the positions described above.

FIG. 18 shows a portion of the control circuit of the machine when it incorporates the construction of FIGS. 16 and 17. In this arrangement, the motors 166 and 362 are maintained in their idle positions by pressurized air passing from the valve 266 through a line 366 to these motors. In order to operate the motor 166 to move the heel clamp 192 rearwardly against the heel of the shoe assembly, the valve 282 is connected to the rod end of the motor 166 by an air line 368. The rod end of the motor 220 is connected to valve 266 by way of a line 370 extending from the line 366 to the motor 220. The valve 206 is connected to the head end of the motor 220 by lines 372 and 374, the restrictor valve 300 being lo cated in the line 374. A line 376, extending from the line 372 to the rod end of the motor 362, connects the valve 206 with the motor 362. The other elements of the control circuit, which are not shown in FIG. 18, are identical to the elements shown in FIG. 13.

In the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 16-18, the shifting of the valve 282 enables pressurized air to pass from this valve through the line 368 to the motor 166 to cause this motor to move the heel clamp 192 rearwardly until the clamp pads 200 and 202 engage the heel portion of the shoe assembly and the valve 206 is opened in the manner described above. The opening of the valve 206 enables the motor 220 to be actuated in the manner described above by means of the pressurized air passing from the valve 206 through the lines 372 and 374 and the restrictor valve 300 to the motor 220. The opening of the valve 206 also enables pressurized air to pass from the line 372 through the line 376 to the motor 362 to actuate this motor to retract the piston rod 364 into the cylinder 360 and thus apply the brakes 340 against the bars 162 to lock the heel clamp 192 in position. In all other respects the embodiment of FIGS. 16-18 is operated identically to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-15.

From the foregoing it can be seen that in the embodiment of FIGS. 16-18, responsive to the engagement of the heel clamp 192 with the heel portion of the shoe assembly, the heel clamp is locked against movement by the brakes 340 before the motors 98 and 118 cause the yoke '80 to clamp the toe portions of the upper against the last and before the motor 44 imparts a wiping stroke to the wipers to provide the advantages described above.

I claim:

1. A toe lasting machine comprising: means for supporting a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole on its bottom and an upper draped about its toe portion, with the toe end of the shoe assembly facing rearwardly; wiping means located rearwardly of the shoe assembly; means mounting the wiping means for forward movement from a retracted position in a wiping stroke to wipe the toe portion of the margin of the upper against the insole; a heel clamp located forwardly of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel clamp for rearward movement from a starting position toward the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the wiping means in its retracted position; means for initially maintaining the heel clamp in its starting position; means for imparting rearward movement to the heel clamp so as to cause it to bear against the heel portion of the shoe assembly; control means, operative in response to the engagement of the heel clamp with the shoe assembly for imparting a wiping stroke to the wiping means; and means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement during the wiping stroke.

2. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the heel clamp comprises: a mount portion; a pad, movably connected to the mount portion, adapted to bear against the shoe assembly and move forwardly with respect to the mount portion when said rearward movement is imparted to the heel clamp; and a control member so constructed as to be actuated in response to said forward movement of the pad; and wherein said control means comprises: means responsive to the actuation of said control member to impart said wiping stroke.

3. The machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said control means further comprises: an actuating member mounted for movement between a first position and a second position; means for initially maintaining the actuating member in said first position; means responsive to the actuation of the control member to move the actuating member from said first position to said second position; and means responsive to the arrival of the actuating member in said second position to impart said wiping stroke.

4. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: an actuating member mounted for movement between a first position and a second position; means for initially maintaining the actuating member in said first position; means responsive to the operator of the control means to move the actuating member from said first position to said second position; and means responsive to the arrival of the actuating member in said second position to impart said Wiping stroke.

5. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for imparting rearward movement to the heel clamp comprises: a motor having an element that is movable in response to the application of fluid under pressure to the motor; means connecting the element to the heel clamp; a tank of incompressible oil; a line, extending from the tank to the motor, so connected to the motor as to enable the heel clamp to move rearwardly in response to the flow of oil from the tank to the motor; a check valve in the line precluding the flow of oil from the motor to the tank; and means for forcing oil from the tank to the motor; said incompressible oil serving as said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement.

6. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against .movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the engagement of the heel clamp with the shoe assembly, before said imparting of the wiping stroke, to move the brake to its locking position.

7. The machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the actuation of the control member, before said imparting of the wiping stroke, to move the brake to its locking position.

8. The machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the actuation of the control member, before the arrival of the actuating member in said second position, to move the brake to its locking position.

9. The machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said means eifective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the engagement of the heel clamp with the shoe assembly, before the arrival of the actuating mem ber in said second position, to move the brake to its locking position.

10. A toe lasting machine comprising: means for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole on its bottom and an upper draped about its toe portion, with the toe end of the shoe assembly facing rearwardly; Wiping means located rearwardly of the shoe assembly; means mounting the wiping means for forward movement from a retracted position in a wiping stroke to wipe the toe portion of the margin of the upper against the insole; a toe pad located above the wiping means operable, when a clamping force is applied thereto, to exert a forwardly directed clamping force to the shoe assembly; a heel clamp located forwardly of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel clamp for rearward movement from a starting position toward the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the wiping means in its retracted position; means for initially maintaining the toe pad in such condition that the clamping force is not applied thereto; means for initially maintaining the heel clamp in its starting position; means for imparting rearward movement to the heel clamp so as to cause it to bear against the heel portion of the shoe assembly; control means, operative in response to the engagement of the heel clamp with the shoe assembly, to first cause clamping force to be applied to the toe pad and to then impart a wiping stroke to the wiping means; and means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement during the wiping stroke.

11. The machine as defined in claim 10 wherein the heel clamp comprises: a mount portion; a heel pad, movably connected to the mount portion, adapted to bear against the shoe assembly and move forwardly with respect to the mount portion when said rearward movement is imparted to the heel clamp; and a control member so constructed as to be actuated in response to said forward movement of the heel pad; and wherein said control means comprises: means responsive to the actuation of said control member to cause said clamping force to be applied and to impart said wiping stroke.

12. The machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said control means further comprises: a pair of actuating members, each of which is mounted for movement between a first position and a second position; means for initially maintaining the actuating members in their first positions; means responsive to the actuation of the control member to move the actuating members from their first positions to their second positions with a first one of the actuating members arriving in its second position prior to the arrival of the second one of the actuating members in its second position; means responsive to the arrival of said first actuating member in its second position to cause the application of said clamping force; and means responsive to the arrival of said second actuating member in its second position to impart said wiping stroke.

13-. The machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means further comprises: a pair of actuating members, each of which is mounted for movement be- '11 tween a first position and a second position; means for initially maintaining the actuating members in their first positions; means responsive to the operation of the control means to move the actuating members from their first positions to their second positions with a first one of the actuating members arriving in its second position prior to the arrival of the second one of the actuating members in its second position; means responsive to the arrival of said first actuating member in its second position to cause the application of said clamping force; and means responsive to the arrival of said second actuating member in its second position to impart said wiping stroke.

14. The machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for imparting rearward movement to the heel clamp comprises: a motor having an element that is movable in response to the application of fluid under pressure to the motor; means connecting the element to the heel clamp; a tank of incompressible oil; a line, extending from the tank to the motor, so connected to the motor as to enable the heel clamp to move rearwardly in response to the flow of oil from the tank to the motor; a check valve in the line precluding the flow of oil from the motor to the tank; and means for forcing oil from the tank to the motor; said incompressible oil serving as said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement.

15. The machine as defined in claim 10' wherein said means eifective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the engagement of the heel clamp with the shoe assembly, before said application of the clamping force and said imparting of the wiping stroke, to move the brake to its locking position.

1 6. The machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the actuation of the control member, before said application of the clamping force and said imparting of the wiping stroke, to move the brake to its locking position.

17. The machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the actuation of the control member, before the arrival of the actuating members in said second positions, to move the brake to its locking position.

18. The machine as defined in claim 13 wherein said means effective to lock the heel clamp against forward movement comprises: a bar mounted for movement with the heel clamp; a brake so constructed and located as to move from an unlocking position wherein it is disengaged from the bar to a locking position wherein it is applied against the bar to lock the bar and the heel clamp against movement; means for initially maintaining the brake in said unlocking position; and means responsive to the engagement of the heel clamp with the shoe assembly, before the arrival of the actuating members in said second positions, to move the brake to its locking position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,982,980 5/1961 Faneut et al. 12-12.4 3,025,541 3/1962 Weinschenk 12---10.1 3,099,846 8/1963 Lane et al. 12-10.]

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 12--10.5 

